Ukraine and Japan combine anti-radiation efforts

Ukraine and Japan plan to orbit a joint satellite to monitor Chernobyl and Fukushima

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Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

KIEV, August 26 (Itar-Tass) - Ukraine and Japan plan to orbit a joint satellite for radiological monitoring of the regions, which are adjacent to the sites of the nuclear disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kozhara here on Monday.

“The cooperation between our countries to eliminate the aftermath of the disasters at the nuclear power plants will be continued and deepened. This is primarily the cooperation between the University of Tokyo and corresponding institutes of the space industry in Ukraine in general supervision of the regions, which are adjacent to Chernobyl and Fukushima,” Fumio Kishida said.

In his words, this project can be implemented quite soon. The Ukrainian foreign minister noted that Ukrainian rockets and small satellites, which the University of Tokyo had developed, will be used in the project. “The first launch under this project is planned soon, and the governments of both countries agreed to give utmost support to it,” Kishida said.

For his part, Leonid Kozhara noted that Ukraine is vitally interested in joint projects to orbit Japanese small satellites.

“As for concrete sums, concrete contracts this is a matter of direct debates between corresponding agencies in Ukraine and Japan, which will be agreed upon after domestic state-brokered and international procedures,” Leonid Kozhara said.

The Japanese delegation headed by Fumio Kishida visited the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to study the experience of eliminating the aftermath of the nuclear disaster at nuclear power plants, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported. At the negotiations of the official delegations from the Foreign Ministries of Ukraine and Japan environment protection issues at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant were discussed first of all.

Next year Japan plans to launch seven small satellites, through the sensors of which the pollution level at the nuclear power plants will be estimated.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida is currently on an official visit in Ukraine since August 24.